"US Halftracks with Canvas Cover?" Topic

Hi All.

Does anyone know of a manufacturer of a 1/72 US halftrack with the canvas cover (tilt)? Any specialized radio/command versions in particular would be good.

If you know of these in 1/144 scale I'd also be interested.

Thanks!

Hasegawa makes a plastic 1/72 M3A1 halftrack that has the possibility to be built with ot without the canvas cover on.

Griefbringer

Pendraken do a tilt option for their M3 half-track -- which may well be on the British list not the US one. Though it is 10mm so will be a little small next to true 1/144.

I seem to recall the Airfix half track has a canvas tilt option.

Airfix has it.

As above for 1/76th, Airfix.

Why not just scratch build out of brass rod, tissue paper and PVA ?
Much more satisfying.

The Airfix US halftrack is 1/76 scale, it my look a bit small against 1/72 stuff, but it was a sturdy kit.

About the Hasegawa model, I should perhaps add that while being 1/72, it is a bit wider than it really should be, and can be a bit tricky to assemble.

If you already have a bunch of half-tracks, then the idea of scratch-building the cover might be a pretty sensible one – make the frame out of plastic/brass rod and then drape on top tissue paper soaked in water/PVA glue mixture.

Griefbringer

Has Airfix added the canvas cover back to their M3 kits? They used to have them years ago, but the more recent kits came without them.

Of course, you could just make one solid model canvas tilt out of wood, putty & stuff, then make a mold of it in silicon putty (even the leak stop stuff works with plaster) then cast as many of your own as you need.

There used to be an excellent website dedicated to scale sizes. I remember it stating that the Hasegawa M#, along with the Easy 8 Sherman, were both actually 1/69th scale, thus why both kits are a bit bigger. I wonder why? I always thought they looked a bit big too.

Thanks, all! Some of your solutions were truly ingenious ways of using up my free time, and I might just try them. :-)

Hey folks, just as an update, I bought the Airfix kit: it has a canvas cover, but only for the trailer, not the HT itself. Looks like Griefbringer's evil plans for my spare time will now come true. :-(

Scratch-build one out of mud and spit --- with your eyes closed.

I have a spare Airfix canvas cover in my bits box if you are interested.

Thanks! I'm not sure if it would be worth the postage cost: it sounds like you might be in Europe. If you are in the USA, let's talk!

And in any case, thanks very much: it is very kind of you to even bring this up!

I'm in Sweden, let me know if you can't find anyone in America who can help you.

Pithead make a US haltrack with a canvas tilt but you have to specify that you want the tilted version. Their scale is 1/150 but some reckon its pretty close to 1/144 scale .

the italeri m3 scout car has a canvas tilt, I was thinking of trying to fit that to one of their quick built half tracks

Nice idea! Please let us know how it works. I think I will go with Pithead for 10mm, but will probably scratchbuild for 20mm.

And, being scale-promiscuous, I am getting into 15mm as well: anyone know of the same model with tilt in that size? (Yes, I know "15mm" isn't a "scale" as such.) :-)